Ume Aoki Exhibition Begins

On Oct. 3, the Ume Aoki Exhibition began at the Ueno Royal Museum. The exhibit collects manga manuscripts and exclusive artwork and is the first solo exhibit for Ume Aoki who created the serialized manga Hidamari Sketch and has worked as original character designer on the hit anime Puella Magi Madoka Magica and others. The venue features different themed areas that introduce her exhibited works. Previously unreleased production materials are on display as well, and the exhibit gives attendees the chance to follow the process of creation and growth of manga artist and illustrator Ume Aoki.

In front of the Ueno Royal Museum. This main visual illustration will be on display throughout the exhibit.

Aoki herself made an appearance during a private showing for members of the press and held a live drawing. Aoki will also hold live drawings and signing events throughout the exhibit at undetermined times. As Aoki herself put it, “the schedule isn’t entirely concrete.” Those who happen to meet her should therefore consider themselves lucky.

On display in the first area, “Who is Ume Aoki?”, are crayon drawings from Aoki’s childhood and rough sketches from her prep school days. The third area, “Manuscript Room,” features on display the equipment Aoki uses for work, including an LCD tablet.

The fifth area, “Ume Aoki’s Work,” focuses on works of Aoki’s other than Hidamari Sketch and MadoMagi and includes artwork from a collaboration with a well-established sake brewery on a line of moe-type umeshu and illustrations for the illustrator-focused event Eshi 100 Exhibit.

There are even previously unreleased documents related to *MadoMagi* on display.

Unexpectedly, Aoki also put great effort into an abundance of original products for the exhibit that she herself worked on creating.

Aoki was also in attendance during the two days on which press members were given a private showing and she held live drawings for which she drew heroine Yume from Hidamari Sketch and mascot character Kyubey from MadoMagi. Regarding Hidamari Sketch, Aoki revealed,
“I was an art student when I created Yuno. She’s sort of like me during my time in prep school when I was a terrible student.” She also discussed Kyubey from MadoMagi, saying, “I created the red mark on Kyubey’s back to foreshadow his mysterious nature. After that I thought about making him cute. I also like his tail - it’s big and fluffy.”

The Ume Aoki Exhibition is being held now at the Ueno Royal Museum until Oct. 12.

[Event Details]
Official Site: http://www.umeten.jp/
Dates: Oct. 3–12, 2015
Address: Ueno Park 1-2, Taito, Tokyo 〒110-0007
Telephone: 03-3833-4191
Hours: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (last admittance 30 minutes before closing)
Days Closed: None

This is a Tokyo Otaku Mode original article.Written and photo by Kohji Sakurai.